9
After that incident, we laid off Sensations for a couple of months. During that time business had been very good. I no longer felt the need to make elaborate public displays in order to market the ladies. I had reached the point where I wanted to be in this business. Now that I had stronger contacts, I was always one of the invited guests at social gatherings. I was running my program exactly the way Sasha ran hers. Now, it was me carefully scrutinizing all of the men, making note of those who were their with dates. And before I left, I’d have leads on new clients. With all the new business, I was thinking about adding some new talent.
I was sitting around the apartment relaxing with Diane one afternoon, and we were talking about our increase in business. I had just offered her, her choice of the last three appointments that had come in. “What times are they?”
I ran my finger down the appointment schedule on my laptop. “Uh, seven, ten, and a late night will call.”
“Jackson?”
“Of course.”
“I’ll take them all,” Diane said.
“What?”
“You were just sayin’ that business was so strong that you had to handle some new clients.”
“And?”
“I’m trying to keep you from havin’ to go out like that.” One thing I had to say about Diane, she was true to her word. She was a good ho. “If business is so good, why don’t you recruit somebody?”
“I’ve been thinking about it, Diane; I really have. And I’ve been looking at some women, sizing them up. I just haven’t found what I’m looking for.”
“What about Creme? She’s been all over me to talk to you.”
“Oh hell no! Creme likes to powder her nose too much.”
“True that,” Diane agreed as Bella came in the apartment.
“Hey, Bella,” we both said.
“That is not the type of person we want to invite into our family,” I continued.
“What type of person?” Bella asked.
“You remember my friend Creme?”
“The one that used to work with y’all at the club?” Bella questioned.
“That’s her,” Diane said.
“What about her?”
“Jada thinks she would be a bad influence on us because she sniffs.”
“I don’t know about her being a bad influence; we’re all grown and capable of making our own decisions, but I agree with Jada.”
“Why, Bella?” Diane asked.
“I don’t know. I just never liked being around people that do that,” Bella said.
“People that do what?” Simone asked as she came dragging out of the bedroom.
“Well, good afternoon, sleepyhead,” I said. “Glad you’re still with us.”
“Yeah, well, y’all are making so much noise out here I couldn’t sleep. So what y’all talking about?”
“Diane wants us to start hanging out with her crackhead friend from Ecstasy,” Bella said.
“She is not a crackhead,” Diane insisted. “And I only brought it up because Jada was talking about recruiting somebody new.”
“Why?” Simone asked quickly. “I think we’re doing just fine. We don’t need anybody else,” she added.
“Jada thinks we do,” Diane said like a pouting child.
“I just said that business has picked up and I was thinking about it. But let’s talk about it.”
“I say no,” Simone told us firmly. “It’s true we all have been working a lot and I am a little tired, but what I’m not, is ready to give up any of this money.”
“I agree with Simone,” Bella said.
“Well, when you put it that way”-Diane said and winked at me-“there’s just enough money for us.”
“I guess that settles it,” I said. “But from what I’m hearing, we all could use a break.”
“Maybe we could take a trip,” Bella suggested. “Go to one of those resorts in the islands and have West Indian men wait on us hand and foot.”
“That’s sound like a great idea,” I said. “But I was thinking of something a little more immediate. It’s been a while since we went to the club.” I didn’t have to say another word. The ladies were all for the idea and we quickly agreed that we were ready to go back to Sensations.
The moment the limo pulled up in front of the club, flashes of the last time we were there flooded my mind. “You thinking about the last time we were here, huh?” Bella asked reading my mind.
“Yeah, that shit was foul,” Diane added.
When our driver got out and opened the door for us, there was a small round of applauses from the few members of security that were standing outside. “Welcome back, Ms. West. The place hasn’t been the same without you ladies.” He walked up to Bella. “I really missed you, cutie.”
“Thank you,” Bella said to him and kissed him on the cheek.
Just as they always had, security escorted us to our spot. It did feel good to be back. Sherman, the clubs manager, sent over a complimentary bottle of bubbly and it seemed like old times.
It didn’t take long for the ballers to pour into Sensations that night. I noticed this chick walking around like she owned the place; I wasn’t mad at her though, she was working the hell out of this bad-ass white Gucci pants suit. She gave me a knowing look as she passed, hot on the tail of this up and coming actor.
Later in the ladies room, I noticed the chick in the white suit as I stood next to her at the sink. “This place is always such a mess,” she commented.
“I know. You would think that they would keep somebody in here to keep the place clean,” I told her.
“If these men only knew how nasty some of these women are, I don’t think they’d be in such a hurry to jump in bed with them.” Then she paused and thought about it. “What am I sayin’? They wouldn’t give a shit as long as they get what they want.”
“You ain’t told no lie there,” I said and looked around for something to dry my hands with.
She reached in her purse and handed me a few bar napkins. “I’m Chante,” she said extending her hand.
I dried my hands and then shook hers. “I’m Jada.”
Her eyebrows wrinkled. “Like the actress?” she asked.
I nodded my head.
“I’ve seen you here before,” she said as we walked out together.
“Yeah, I’ve been here a few times.”
“You and your friends always look so nice every time you’re here.”
“Thank you, Chante. I was telling my friend earlier that you’re wearin’ the hell out of that Gucci.”
“Thank you.”
As we made our way through the crowded club, a guy grabbed my arm with so much force, that I bumped onto Chante. “What the hell?” I screamed. I could tell he was drunk, but that didn’t stop him from trying to manhandle me. I struggled to pull free from him. Before I knew what was happening, Chante did a quick move and sent a blow to his neck.
“Goddamn! You see that shit?” I heard someone say as the drunk cowered over grabbing at his neck.
Chante turned to me. “Are you okay?”
I stood stunned to silence. I slowly nodded my head, but I was still in shock over the way she’d put him down.
She pulled me by the arm. “Come on; let’s get out of here before he gets up.”
“Why don’t you come back to my table and I’ll buy you a drink,” I offered.
She smiled. “I’d like that.”
Chante was cute, brown skinned, and had shoulder length hair that she wore bone straight with a part down the middle. I couldn’t pinpoint her age, but I immediately started wondering if she’d be interested in our line of work. Of course that’s not the kind of question you go asking complete strangers. When we got back to the table I introduced Chante to the ladies. After a round of drinks I asked, “So, tell me, Chante, what do you do?”
“Oh, nothing really,” she said. “What I mean is I used to be an executive assistant until my uncle died and left me a nice little stash. So I chucked the nine-to-five three years ago and just been havin’ a good time. But you know what they say about all good things-sooner or later, they come to an end. Lately my money is starting to look real funny,” she shrugged. “Guess I could’ve done some better planning; should’ve kept the job. But I’m hoping to find a generous donor.” She giggled.